Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG IF HSM APO Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I shoot 2-3 sports events a week and while I love my D3 needed more reach (had been trying to shoot soccer & track meets with Nikon 70-200 & Sigma 100-300). I concluded after a lot of thought & soul searching it would be more strategic for me to buy D300/Sigma 120-300mm combo than a 200-400mm for the D3. [the 100-300mm is a great lens too, but that extra stop is so sweet!]
For me, I definitely wanted a f/2.8 lens and felt a zoom would be more versatile than the Nikon 300 f/2.8 (& cheaper too).
There's no question it's a heavy lens by most people's standards, but I always use with a Monfrotto 681B monopod (which I love too).
Have only had this combo for about a 2 weeks but love it. The pictures are tack sharp, and the bokeh is awesome--rivaling Nikon 70-200mm IMHO. People always mention you have to get a good copy from Sigma but buying new I was fairly certain this would not be a problem, and I knew I could always send it right back to Amazon for another copy with no problem.
[....]In summary this combo has helped me take my game to a whole new level, and I'm very, very happy with this lens.



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The Sigma APO 120-300mm f2.8 EX DG HSM Lens for Sigma Digital SLR Cameras features a large aperture of f2.8 at the 300 millimeter focal length and is optimized for used with digital SLR cameras. This lens transforms a large-aperture f2.8 300 millimeter lens into a zoom lens that allows you to determine the picture composition you want without having to change your vantage point. It has two SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements in front group and another SLD element in the rear group for excellent correction of chromatic aberration.The latest in multi-layer lens coating technology and lens design reduce flare and ghosting, which is a common problem with digital cameras, and it also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range. The lens' AF drive is equipped with a silent, responsive and high speed Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM), which also provides full-time manual focus function. Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use. In addition, since the front of the lens does not rotate, a circular polarizing filter can be easily attached and used. High-speed focusing is possible when this lens is used with dedicated APO EX 1.4 x or 2x tele-converters (sold separately).

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Sigma 100-300mm f/4 EX DG IF HSM APO Fast Aperture Telephoto Zoom Lens for Sigma SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this lens to use with my Canon 30D for high school sports (soccer, football, baseball, etc). I already had the Sigma APO 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras and needed more focal length. Like the 70-200 F/2.8, this lens is big, heavy, and built like a tank. The bare lens is about an inch longer than the 70-200, but the 100-300's hood is longer than the 70-200's hood.
The zoom and focus rings are wide and move smoothly with just the right amount of resistance. This lens is sharp wide open. At the overlapping focal lengths, the 70-200 at F/4 is just barely sharper than this lens at F/4 (wide open). At 200mm, this lens is actually sharper (200mm is this lens's sweet spot.) At 300mm, the lens is still sharp wide open, but I like to stop down to F/4.5 just to keep things super-sharp. Up to 250mm, I would not hesitate to use it wide open.
This Sigma lens has HSM which means the focus is fast and quiet. The lens focuses a little slower than the 70-200 F/2.8, but I've found that the 30D is more of a limiting factor in focus speed than the lens is. Servo tracking is very good with this lens, the only time it can't keep up is when track runners are sprinting straight at me (although again, I think the body is the limiting factor here.) For almost every other situation, the focus will definitely keep up.
All in all, this is not an indoor lens by any means, but as an outdoor sports (or wildlife/nature) lens, it is awesome.

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This telephoto zoom lens provides a large F4 aperture at all focal lengths. With minimal light-fall-off, superior peripheral brightness is ensured. It's the ideal lens for digital SLR cameras.The new multi layer lens coating and lens design reduce flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum color balance through the entire zoom range.This lens uses two pieces of SLD glass elements in the front lens group and another two in the rear group for excellent correction of chromatic aberration. High optic performance is demonstrated throughout the entire zoom range.This lens incorporates an internal focusing system, which eliminates front lens rotation, allowing the use of a Petal-type Hood and more convenient to use of circular polarizing filter. Since focusing and zooming do not change its overall length, this lens is easy to hold and use.The use of an Apochromatic design and 4 SLD (The Special Low Dispersion) glass elements (two SLD glass elements are utilized in the front lens group and two in the rear group) provide for full correction of chromatic aberration and a high level of optical performance.The DG designation applied to certain newer Sigma lenses (mostly wide-angle and wide zoom type lenses) indicates that the lens is especially suited for use with digital SLR cameras. The DG lenses feature improved (more even) light distribution from image center to edge, especially at maximum aperture, compared to conventional fast wide-angle lenses. This is important in digital photography, but is also useful in 35mm photography, especially when slide film is used. Also, the shorter focal lengths are desirable, because most digital SLR cameras have image sensors whose dimensions are considerably smaller than a 35mm negative (usually by a factor of 1.3X to 1.7X), making the lens' angle of view equivalent to that of a longer lens on a 35mm camera.

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Sigma 150-500mm f/5-6.3 DG APO OS (Optical Stabilizer) HSM AutoFocus Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax AF Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I have have had this lens for about a month now and really do enjoy it. It gives me the reach and quality of photos that I need. I use this in with my Sigma 18-200mm and with two lens it covers all the ranges that i need. It can be heavy but you will get used to it pretty quick. I tend to hand hold most all of my shots, a tripod is recommended I do like that it came with a really nice case to carry it. In all this a a good priced lens that will give great photos.

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This ultra-telephoto zoom lens covers a telephoto range up to 500mm and allows photographers to bring the subject close and short perspective. Sigma's original OS (Optical Stabilizer) function offers the use of shutter speeds approximately 4 stops slower. It is ideal for sports, wildlife and landscape photography with handheld shooting. Three SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glass elements provide excellent correction for chromatic aberration. This lens is equipped with a rear focus system that minimizes fluctuation of aberration caused by focusing.The super multi-layer lens coating reduces flare and ghosting. High image quality is assured throughout the entire zoom range. This lens incorporates HSM (Hyper Sonic Motor), which ensures a quiet and high-speed AF as well asfull-time manual focusing capability.The addition of the (optional) 1.4x EX DG APO or 2x EX DG APO Tele Converters produce a 210-700mm F7-9 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens or a 300-1000mm F10-13 MF ultra-telephoto zoom lens respectively. A removable tripod socket (TS-31) is included as a standard component.

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Kenko 1.4X PRO 300 TeleconverterDG-Canon EOS Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an exceptional tele-converter for Canon EOS lenses. There are a number of tele-converters out there for current Canon SLR's and lenses (Sigma, Tamron and of-course Canon just to name a few). The Canon converters are only compatible with Çanon L series lenses and will only auto focus with apertures of F4 and larger (for 1.4X) and F2.8 and larger (for 2x). The Kenko PRO 300 has the same aperture limitations (unless some of the pins are taped) however it will work with most Canon lenses. This is definitely a quality PRO product. When used with a high quality lens (I use it pretty much exclusively with my EF70-200f4L) the IQ (image quality) is almost indistinguishable from the lens. In addition focus speed seems just as fast as the lens with out the tele-converter (assuming your lens has an F4 aperture or larger). The general consensus seems to be that the Canon converter is slightly sharper on the edges with the Kenko being equal at the center. For those shooting with a 1.6 crop camera the Kenko should be indistinguishable from the Canon for about a $100.00 less. On the plus side (other then price) the Kenko is more compact and can easily fit in you pocket and can be used with far more lenses (again, the Canon converts can only be used with L series lenses). On the down side, if your using L series lenses, is the color. The Kenko is black while most L series lenses are white (as are the Canon tele-converters). What you get with the Kenko PRO 300 is an excellent tele-converter designed for digital cameras. The elements are special coated to reduce reflections from the image sensor back into the lens. I've yet to notice any chromatic aberration or vignetting. The color and sharpness are as good as the lens you're using.
In summery, this an excellent product. Image quality (especially on a 1.6 crop camera) is about as good as it gets. It's electronic circuitry accurately passes all exif data to the camera. The only reason I give it 4 stars instead of 5 is because the mount between the lens and converter seems to be a little stiff though it has yet to give me problems. On the other hand the mount from the converter to the camera seems to be quite smooth.

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Kenko AF 1.5x Super High Quality Teleplus converter also has genuine Gated Array IC and is compact for light weight and easy handling. Full AF is capable with lenses having a maximum aperture of F/4.5 or brighter. (Manual focusing will be required with lenses of smaller aperture.)Placed between the camera body and lens, a teleconverter contains a set of optics that will effectively increase the focal length of a lens by a specific amount. Common magnifications are 1.4 times and 2 times, but the Kenko teleplus PRO 300 AF converter has a 3x magnification. For example, using a 2 times (2x) teleconverter will increase the focal of 300mm lens to 600mm. The Teleplus PRO 300 converters are made with high quality multi-coated optical glass supplied by Hoya Corporation, the worlds largest manufacturer of optical glass. These glass elements are designed to match the optical quality of the prime lens (even at the edges) and telephoto zoom lenses. The optical design of the elements and light path is wide enough not to cause vignetting. The PRO 300 family is designed specifically to be used with prime telephoto lenses of 100mm or above, such as, a 300 mm f/2.8 lens, and work best with telephoto lenses of 200mm to 500mm. The PRO 300 can be used with telephoto zoom lenses as well as prime lenses. However, Kenko does not recommend them for zoom lenses that have a range starting under 50 mm.

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Quantaray - Zoom lens - 28 mm - 200 mm - f/3.8-5.6 - Canon EF Review

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(More customer reviews)This is an awesome lens. I bought it to replace the crappy lens that came with the digital rebel xt. It really is great. Sharp autofocus and great aperture range. This is perfect for what I do(astrophotography). The only reason i gave it four staars was that the autofocus can be a little sluggish but you can hardly notice it. Great value for a great lens.

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Imagine a single lens that ranges from wide angle to long telephoto. Now imagine it right at your fingertips! Quantaray's 28-200mm F3.8-5.6 Aspherical IF-Premier is one of several new Quantaray lenses. It incorporates one Aspherical Lens in the rear lens group and the one Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass element in the front lens group. This high magnification zoom lens covers focal lengths from 28mm wide angle to 200mm telephoto, with close-up capability. It incorporates special internal focusing to enable it to focus as close as 19.7 inches (50cm) from film plane to subject, at all focal lengths, and to the use of polarizing filters. The optical materials used in this new lens are lead and arsenic free ecological glass. If you want to carry only one lens - carry this amazingly compact Super-zoom!PRODUCT FEATURES:Aperture type: Automatic/Variable.

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Raynox DCR-2020, Pro 2.2x Telephoto Lens for Digital Still Cameras, 52mm and 58mm Filter Thread Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using the Raynox teleconverter on my Canon Pro1 and I am very happy with the results. I mostly do bird photography which requires a long zoom. This lens is relatively lightweight and as sharp as the Canon teleconverters. It has a resolution of over 260 lines/mm which results in excellent sharp pictures with my 8MP cameras, even when viewed at 100%. Highly recommended.

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The model DCR-2020PRO high definition telephoto lens is made of high index optical glass elements, and it's designed with new designing concept of two-group/four-element formula to obtain the maximum resolution power of 260 lines/mm resolution power at center (MTF30%), while it has low dispersion. There will be no reduction of light value when this conversion lens is attached on the camera's lens.By using a suitable adapter and/or holder, the DCR-2020PRO lens can be used with the appropriate digital still camera or digital camcorder, effectively. RA6252 for 52mm filter size and RA6258 for 58mm filter size two adapter rings are included with the DCR-2020PRO.

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Sigma 500mm f/4.5 EX DG IF HSM APO Telephoto Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I am surprised at the performance. I also own the Sigma 300mm f2.8. It is pretty good also. The 500 is excellent in a light weight 500 super telephoto. And not to cheap anymore. Kinda pricy. If i had it to do over again i would buy the canon or nikon version. They have many features that are better. But I already owned the Pentax K-7 and 1.4 and 2.0 T.C. 's. So as not being one to make a living shooting wildlife it is just exceptional for me. Don't listen to the guys that say Sigma is second best in IQ. It is almost there with them now...
Update:
After shooting with the lens and using a dedicated Sigma 1.4 T.C. I can say that in good light I cannot tell the difference between this and the Canon or Nikor counterparts. It really is that good. It is exactly where it should be with the MTF chart readings I think. This is one product i can recommend without any problems. It is extremly sharp.

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Fast maximum aperture F4.5 telephoto lens optimized for digital SLR cameras.This ultra-telephoto lens has a fast maximum aperture, and also features a new super multi-layer coating, which optimizes the characteristics of digital SLR cameras. Two ELD glass elements in the front lens elements reduce chromatic aberration to a minimum and also ensure sharp, quality images of high contrast.

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Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX RF HSM Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I just recently got into photography as a retirement hobby and was fortunate to be able to acquire a Canon D60 within two days of ordering one from Kaimuki Camera Store in Honolulu.

To complete the Canon system I purchased Canon Lenses, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM, EF 28-70mm f/2.8L USM, Canon EF 75-300mm f/4.5-6 IS USM, and a Canon EF 35-350mm f/3.5-5.6L USM. I also got a Tamron 28-300mm UltraZoom XR f/3.5-6.3 LD Aspherical Macro, and my daughter got me the Sigma EX 50-500mm f/4-6.3 APO RF Zoom lens, along with the Sigma 2.0 teleconvertor lens, for my retirement party.
This Sigma 50-500 lens is like magic for me in that I've taken pictures of the city from my balcony and upon proccessing the images on my computer there are images that I didn't even know were there through my naked eye. I was amazed that I could read freeway signs that were easily over ten miles away.
Tonight my wife, daughter and I went out to shoot pictures of the full moon. We were all pleasantly surprised when we could see the details of the moon's surface, with the craters and other distinct features. By the way, I did have the Sigma 2X teleconvertor attached. If I'm not mistaken, along with the extra teleconvertor's 2X power, the magnification was also further enhanced by the inherent 1.6 mutiplier effect through the digital camera's characteristics.
All of the other reviewers are correct in their opinion of the 50-500's weight. It is heavy, and so far, I've gotten a lot of comments about the neat "retro" look with the crinkled black finish just as Bluegun opined. I also noticed that on several occassions people in front of me actually moved aside to give me room to shoot pictures at our Aloha Week events and once at a University of Hawaii sporting event. I guess the big tripod, and once, monopod monted Sigma zoom possibly gave me the look of a pro, which, of course, I'm far from.
I really like Sigma's locking feature so that the lens won't creep open when moving about. Also, when trying to manually focus the lens it is pretty tight, or sticky, as Bluegun has noted, however, I may be wrong, but I kind of like it tight rather than having it too loose. When I checked for comparisons in features/pricing this Sigma 50-500 is a definite bargain. I can't seem to find any comparable Canon lens with that range of the 50-500. The closest Canon has is not anywhere near Sigma's price points. Of course I pretty well believe that Canon's quality/price against Sigma's is definitly not comparing apples and apples. What Sigma has done, however, is help to make a big powerful lens that is affordable for just about anyone who can't affordably justify Canon's at the moment. Case in point - Sigma's 50-500 zoom has made it possible for my daughter to have the luxury of purchsing a good as well as impressive "big lens" for her daddy on her student's budget.

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Encompassing all popular focal lengths from the 50mm normal to 500mm ultratelephoto, the Sigma 50-500mm f4-f6.3 EX RF HSM hyperzoom lens gives you amazing versatility, plus a 10:1 zoom ratio, while its rear focus system ensures fast, convenient manual focus. The use of an apochromatic design, plus four optical elements composed of special low dispersion (SLD) glass, a seven-group zoom system, and multicoated optics combine to give you high-quality images.
This lens, featuring Sigma's silent hypersonic motor (HSM) focusing system, allows you to shoot pictures of your subject without the normal noise of an automatic focus system. In addition to its quiet, responsive AF function, you can also use the full-time manual focus at any time. The zoom lock mechanism helps reduce the "zoom creep" distortion that can occur when your lens is tilted up or down.
Sigma uses magnesium in the tripod mount to help reduce the weight of the lens (it's just over 65 ounces), yet still maintains the strength and rigidity necessary to support its weight. This model is dedicated to Canon AF SLR cameras.

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Minolta Maxxum AF 70-210mm F/4 Telephoto Zoom Lens Review

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(More customer reviews)So far I am very happy with this high quality lens. Much sharper than newer Sigma lens. Constant aperture is also a good feature. The down side is that it is a little long and heavy but worth it. Also called the "beer Can" lens.

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The Maxxum 70-210 f/4 telephoto is presently the most sought after medium telephoto in the Maxxum line up. It has obtained a "cult-like" status amongst Minolta photographers and is affectionately known by Minoltians as "The Beercan".The lens is well designed with high quality optics and the durable build of Minolta's legendary 1st generation vintage lens line up. It has been rumoured to have a Leica-influenced design and to have cost more to build than the sales price.Performance, vignetting, and distortion (wide open and stopped down) as well as color, flare, AF speed and build are all considered. The f/4 is the highest rated non-APO medium telephoto lens in the database, and for the most part, the rest of the available lenses that do rate higher will retail at $1000-2000.The build of the "beercan" is second to none. Most newer versions in the 70-210mm focal range sport a smaller maximum aperture and increased use of plastic components, both cosmetically and internally. Inside the f/4 version, die cast metal gears, parts and threads are found and the body is a solid metal casing with a beautiful enamel finish and wide rubber zoom grip. This construction does add to the weight of the lens, but for overall durability and a stable and more distinctive feel.

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Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM APO RF Telephoto Zoom Lens for Canon SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)The auto focus is super quiet and reasonably fast in most situations, although mounted on my D30 it does get confused in complex lighting. This is a BIG and HEAVY lens. I use the neck strap provided with the lens, as well as the strap on the camera at the same time. Although I'm probably overcautious, I don't trust the weight of the lens hanging from the camera without extra support. Mounted on a monopod, it is well balanced although following birds in flight presents a challenge. Optically, it's truly beautiful through all f stops. It looks like it will take any abuse I can reasonably give it, being solidly constructed and manufactured to very precise tolerances. I wanted a quality super telephoto and I got one at a great price.

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The Sigma APO 50-500mm f4-6.3 EX DG HSM Lens for Canon Digital SLR Cameras is a high-magnification zoom lens with a 10x zoom ratio. The advanced optical design of the lens is optimized for digital SLR cameras, and the super coating on each glass surface produces superb color rendition, while reducing flare and ghosting. This lens uses four pieces of Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass for excellent correction of color aberration throughout the entire zoom range. The Hyper Sonic Motor (HSM) provides quiet high-speed AF function, as well as full-time manual focus capability. This lens also features a Zoom Lock device to eliminate "zoom creep" when the lens is tilted down. When the lens is set to the 50 millimeter focal length, it is remarkably compact and provides easy handling. The tripod mount is composed of magnesium, to minimize total weight. It is also easy to grip and carry the lens due to ergonomic design of the tripod mount. Non-rotating front lens elements, due to the rear focus mechanism, make possible the use of a custom bayonet "petal-type hood," which prevents extraneous light from degrading the image quality. This mechanism also allows the use of circular polarizing filters, since the front barrel does not rotate during focusing or zooming.

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Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG APO Macro Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Samsung SLR Cameras Review

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(More customer reviews)I disagree with Jeff Kershaw's review for the older version of this lens (Sigma 70-300mm APO Super), in that it's very unfair to compare this lens to a L series lens, as those lens start at over $500 due to it's very specific high-grade optics manufacturing process. To compare this lens to a lens that starts at over 4X the price is like comparing a Honda Civic to a Porsche. Like the civic, this Sigma lens is well rounded, good for beginner and consumer SLR photographers, and maybe some "pro-sumer" on a tight budget, or even students. For the price, this lens is a bargain, as I've been doing a lot of research before buying this lens (price range in the $130-225 for telephoto). What I liked most about this is the APO lenses, which prevent reflection inside the lens which creates "ghosting" (inverted light ghostly shadow that appers on your image) which is usually apparent in nightshots. During the day APO lenses decrease those "purple fuzzies" (chromatic aberration) you see against high contrast (like a bird's wing against the sky). Granted this lens is no Porsche like the Canon L series, but for the price range, may hit the spot for some folks. I mainly use this camera for macro photography and taking photos of the Empire state building from my roof, which is 24 blocks away. This lens is definitely better quality than the Canon 75-300 USM III f/4-5.6 which is usually considered the benchmark for this price range telephoto.
Also note that there are different versions of these lenses (despite close naming), so be careful about what you buy. The is a APO DG version with Macro specifically made for digital SLRs which is what is listed here (the "official" name of this lens is: 70-300mm F4-5.6 APO DG Macro), and a non APO version of this lens which is a bit cheaper (but not worth it at all). Also there's ones listed as APO II which is the "older" version, which I don't know the quality of, but know that it is older than the model listed here.
Summary: If you're on a tight budget this is as good as it gets in this price bracket. The next tier where there's significant gains in lens imaging doesn't even start until you start spending in $600-1800 range.

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Telephoto zoom lenses with tele-macro function and optimised for digital SLR camerasThe performance telephoto zoom lens is capable of shooting with a maximum magnification of 1:2 at the focal length of 300 mm. It's the ideal lens for portraits, sports photography, nature photography, and other types of photography that frequently use the telephoto range.SLD (Special Low Dispersion) glassThis lens has two SLD glass elements in the front lens group and one in the rear lens group, the lens has excellent correction of chromatic aberration through the entire zoom range. This new DG lens is capable of macro photography with a 1:2 maximum magnification at the focal length of 300 mm. The new multi layer lens coating reduces flare and ghost, which is a common problem with digital cameras and also creates an optimum colour balance Macro shooting with maximum magnification 1:2High optical performance is demonstrated throughout the entire zoom range. It also has a switch that converts the lens to macro photography at focal lengths between 200mm and 300mm with a minimum focusing distance of 95cm (37.4 inches). In normal mode the minimum focusing distance is 150cm (59.1 inches) at all zoom settings. Maximum magnification between 200mm and 300mm is 1:2.9 to 1:2.

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Phoenix P09060 500MM F:8 Mirror Lens in T Mount Review

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(More customer reviews)The Phoenix 500-mm reflex telephoto lens is a way to get long telephoto shots at a diminutive fraction of the cost of conventional telephoto lenses. It's very light, very comfortable to hold, focusses quite easily (the focussing ring turns smoothly and has a conveniently long motion), has a 77-mm-diameter front thread (lens shades are easy to find), and can produce definitely acceptable 9" x 12" prints if you know how to post-process digital images. If you're accustomed to using a DSLR and a not-lightweight lens, you won't need a tripod unless you want insurance against camera shake.
If you've read other reviews about how the donut-shaped out-of-focus highlights are ugly or distracting, I dunno: google "mirror lens bokeh" and check out the images. Yes, the bokeh is sometimes offputting, but the depth of field these lenses produce is so shallow that the out-of-focus highlights are more often blurred completely out of existence. If you can separate your subject from foreground and background--as you want to do with nature shots, as happens automatically with shots of aircraft--the donut bokeh doesn't happen. You can learn to avoid circumstances in which it looks weird. Sometimes it looks cool.
If you've read other reviews about how dark things look in the viewfinder with an F8 lens, your experience should be a pleasant surprise: the lens has to be used in bright light in order not to use an impossibly high iso setting, and in sunlight or light overcast the image in the viewfinder is bright enough. Of course, if you're accustomed only to F2 lenses, what the Phoenix shows will look dark, at least at first. But the tradeoff is a really long telephoto, and you can buy a pretty good used car for what a really long Canon or Nikkor or even Sigma telephoto lens costs. And the Phoenix is a really light telephoto, and those other long, long lenses are truly heavy. So you can put the Phoenix in your camera bag or a big pocket and have it with you. You can take it to the zoo or the airfield or the outdoor game/race/event or the lake or on a ramble through the woods and not have to lug your tripod along.
But if you've always let your camera do the focussing, this lens requires a good deal of practice (but the truth is that shooting long telephoto shots with good AF still results in quite a few discarded images, so a manual-focus lens will only cut your "keeper" rate in half, or so, after you've practiced).
And then, the Phoenix 500-mm will not produce consistently first-rate images. With careful post-processing, it will give you some really good ones, and quite a few definitely satisfactory ones. If $100 is no big deal to you, and you want to try a really long lens, go for it. If $100 is a definitely big deal, then the cost of a better-quality lens is an even bigger one, and owning one of these is a far-future event. So you may want to get the Phoenix and save up for a better lens, and in the meantime learn to use a long telephoto, learn how to focus manually, and learn how to post-process images to real advantage. Learning those skills will be valuable. The Phoenix is fun to use. If you find you don't like long-telephoto photography, you can sell the lens and recoup a good deal of its cost. If you find you really love long-telephoto photography, you can look forward to getting a higher-quality lens and know your images will improve when you have one.
- - - - - - - - - -
(Auto exposure depends on the DSLR you have. With mine, the 500-mm Phoenix works fine when the exposure mode is set to Aperture priority, and exposures are consistently good. If you have to use manual exposure, it's not a big problem. Look at the chart on this page-- [...] --and change it by decreasing your shutter speed by two stops. Then on each outing take a test shot, look at it in your LCD, and make the adjustment you need. Easy.)
(The Phoenix reflex needs a lens shade. Get a cheap, collapsible rubber one; it will protect the front element, the lens cap will fit into it, and it will improve the contrast and saturation of your images.)

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Samyang Mirror Lens Multi-Coated 500mm F8.0. loc-RB Lens Section

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Manfrotto 293 Telephoto Lens Support - Replaces 3420 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The reason I don't give it 5 stars is because of the bulk and size of the lens support. Don't get me wrong, you can't find a better price on such a product as others try to sale you a lens support for $150 or more. The only problem I have is the bulkiness but it is strong and sturdy and has adjustments everywhere. This is the cheapest alternative and better than nothing. I mean try to hold a nikon 80-200mm 2.8 push pull early version with no support and your arms begin to shake and in return you get even more blurred pictures.

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Get sharper images with this support for medium telephoto lens. The length of the bracket is adjustable to take different length lenses and different diameters by tilting the Tilt Head 234RC (included). Length from head to lens support adjustable from 200 to 295mm. Attachments: 4 x 3/8" female and 3 x 1/4" female. Color: black; -90° / +90° tilt range; load capacity: 5.51 lbs.; material: aluminum; maximum extension: 11.61 in.; minimum extension: 7.87 in.; weight: 1.54 lbs.

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Sigma 150mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM APO HSM IF Macro Lens for Olympus and Panasonic SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had a Canon 100mm f2.8 Macro and it was working quite well for me but I longed for a little more working distance. When Sigma came out with the 150mm f2.8 Macro, I tried researching it but couldn't find much info because it was such a new lens, I found the MTF charts on the Sigma Website and it was amazing. This lens was very close to the performance of the Sigma 180mm macro and Canon's famed 180mm f3.5 L. So I went ahead and bought it. It was a little pricy but I thought I could always return it if I didn't like it.
My first impressions taking the lens out of the box was very positive. It was quite compact for the focal length and was very well made. It balanced quite well on my 20D. I never liked Sigma's EX finish but I could live with it. The EX finish looks cheap to me,particularly the golden ring, and the EX badge, but it's better than Sigma's old design. The only thing I like about the EX finish is that it seems very durable. Even after heavy use there are no marks or scratches on the lens body and every time I wipe the lens body with a damp tissue, it just looks like brand new. The focus ring is nicely ribbed and wide but it didn't have the kind of damping Canon L lenses have, so it felt a little loose. The tripod ring is made of the same material as the lens body itself, but it didn't feel as smooth as the Canon's L like the 70-200 2.8IS and the 300mm f4 IS. One advantage Sigma's tripod rings have over Canon is you don't have to take it off the tripod to remove the lens. You just pull a knob and the ring opens allowing you to remove the lens. This is good if you have it all set on the tripod and want to quickly remove it for some hand held shots.
As far as it's optical performance is concerned, it's an absolute gem. When I review the pictures from this lens, all worries and niggles about price, finish etc dissapear and I'm glad I own it. I compared it against Canon's 135mm F2L which is one of Canon's sharpest lens,and this lens compares very favourably against it. In fact it is just as sharp as the 135mm at comparable apertures. But the 135mm is a stop faster and has faster focussing but that's a whole different story.
In short the lens is everything one can expect out of a macro. Excellent build, very sharp, good colors, excellent bokeh (out of focus areas). What else would one want? The focussing is slow, but it's a macro lens and that's how macro lenses are. The minimum aperture is 22 which may deter some, but I don't shoot slower than 22 anyway because of diffraction limitations.
This lens is just perfect for it's intended purpose. Needless to say, I sold my Canon 100mm in a jiffy.

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Super Multi Coating reduces flare and ghosting that tends to occur when using digital SLR cameras.Super compact and lightweight, large aperture telephoto lens with life-size macro capability.This large aperture telephoto macro lens enables you to shoot up to 1:1 life size close-ups. Its large F2.8 aperture makes it an ideal lens for digital SLR as well as film SLR cameras. Two Special Low Dispersion (SLD) glass elements control various color aberrations and assure high image quality. Super Multi Coating gives superb color performance whilst cutting down flare and ghost. Its compact, yet advanced, construction has an overall length of Length 137mm (5.4in.), maximum diameter of 79.6mm (3.1in.), filter size of 72mm and weight of 895gr/31.6ounces

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Kenko Vari 8000S - Telephoto zoom lens - 420 mm - 800 mm - f/8.3-16.0 - Canon EF Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I own this in the Canon EOS mount.. they are in fact all the same, just ships with a different T-mount adapter, and the 420-1600 just ships with a 2x teleconverter.
This is a very light weight lens, especially for its focal length, it has no aperture blades, it's completely empty on the inside, its like an old style hand telescope. When sources of strong constrast/light are coming toward the camera, expect heavy chromatic aberration, free of chromatic aberration in other situations.
However, I've found a particularly excellent use for this lens, which is taking great photos of the moon on a tripod with a shutter release cable on my Canon 30D.
Although be warned, the lens is very physically long, although light, it makes focussing extremely difficult, especially on a tripod, as there is no tripod collar, you attached the camera to the tripod, then when you zoom the lens all the way (linear pull zoom) the lens is over 30cm long (12 inches!), although light because its empty, its supported on the tripod from the camera base, so soon as you touch the lens or camera, or the focussing ring, the image in the view finder shakes like crazy while trying to focus, making it hard to focus on the most useful application with this lens... on a tripod.
You can only use this lens hand held in full day light, and if you're doing so you'll need a shutter speed of 1/500 sec to eliminate blur from your own movement (due to the massive focal length), 1/250 sec is the minimum for sharp shots I could personally get.
And shooting in daylight, whether hand held or tripod, you're going to want to use a 1A sky filter AND a polarising filter (or at least one of them) to increase colour and contrast, luckily this thing comes with a lens hood.
The top of this lens screws off easily, so you can keep the lens pieces clean, if they ever develop fungus, good thing about this lens is water wont damage it, as it doesnt even have aperture blades, just glass and coated metal.
Though since the tip screws off you could cut a circle out of some black card then a hole in the middle and insert it into the middle of the lens to create your own aperture to try and improve sharpness and increase depth of field, and reduce aberration and flare etc.
I hope this helps.

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Kit includes:♦ 1) Kenko 420-800mm Super Telephoto Zoom Lens♦ 2) Precision Design T-mount Adapter♦ 3) Rear Lens CapCapture images magnified up to 16x that of a standard 50mm lens with the Kenko 420-800mm Super Telephoto Zoom Lens mounted to your favorite camera.This zoom is manufactured in Japan with multi-coated all glass elements and a built-in lens hood for superior contrast and resolution with an aluminum alloy body that is surprisingly lightweight and compact. Macro focusing even at 800mm down to a remarkable 5.25 ft, it can also be used reveal all the details and textures of small subjects. This powerful zoom offers all the versatility you need for wildlife, sports, nature and surveillance photography at an affordable price.This lens kit includes a T-mount lens adapter which allows this lens to be used with Canon EOS cameras. Also includes a compatible rear lens cap.

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Kowa 615-900 PRO 700 DX Titanium Alloy Tripod Leg Set (SLIK) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am not a professional photographer, more like serious part time amateur. I have a Canon S3 and find it is perfect for my level of shooting (also have a Canon T70 with multiple lenses and Panasonic G320 digital video that I use on tripod, but I prefer the S3). Based on internet reviews, I ordered the Slik Pro 700 Dx with the 800 Ball Head. First, the tripod is massive! It is really made for much larger cameras than mine, too heavy to lug around while playing tourist. Having said that, I now do not want to take pictures without it. I am 6'2", and this thing easily rises over my head. It is solid and stable, and well made. Each leg is independently adjustable for height and angle. I can hang on this thing for shooting without worry. Center column locks with a twist ring, which I find to be much better than a geared column. The tripod comes with sponge like grips not shown in the picture that make it very comfortable to use. The round tubes are grooved to prevent twist, which adds to the stability. Solid rubber feet on the ends. Open with camera mounted, it does not feel heavy, and the included travel bag make carrying it easy enough for field trips. Matched with the 800 Ball Head, it makes a great tripod. I only regret having used a cheap tripod for so long before stepping to the real thing.

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SLIK�s exclusive A.M.T. super titanium alloy legs make the PRO 700 DX tripod rock steady yet lighter than it looks. The A. M. T. alloy has a 40% greater strength to weight ration than standard aluminum, meaning the legs are lighter weight yet stronger than the standard metal used in most of today�s tripods. Capable of handling the weight of large format (4x5) field cameras or heavy, long telephoto lenses, The PRO 700 DX offer professional photographers and advanced amateurs the strength and stability they need while its size, and the use of A. M. T. alloy, make it lighter weight and more portable than THE PROFESSIONAL series.A tripod should be easy to use, so that that you spend more time concentrating on your photography than you do your equipment. The PRO 700 DX makes setting up easy with secure yet fast speed release leg locks, gearless center column, and 3 position adjustable angle leg locks for easy set up on uneven ground or steps. The PRO 700 DX center column is actually two threaded pieces that unscrew to convert the top piece to a short column. This combined with the adjustable leg angle locks allows the tripod to be lowered to just 15 inches for very low angle or macro photography in the field.

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Pentax SMC DA* Series 50-135mm f/2.8 ED IF SDM Telephoto Zoom Lens for Pentax and Digital SLR Cameras Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After anxiously awaiting the new DA* series of lenses, I bought it the day it was released. I had to photograph the Ujena Bikini Jam in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and KNEW that I needed the benefits of a tightly sealed, weather proof lens because of the intense humidity. When I first mounted the lens to the body of my K10D (after updating the firmware of course) I was surprised at how incredibly quiet the motor is. I've never had this experience with any lens I've owned. I'm so used to the slight "whir" sound that lenses produced, it was hard for me at first to tell if it was working! The lens focuses quickly and accurately. The lens is nicely finished with nice rubber ribbing on the barrel. It accepts 67mm thread size filters. There may be a temptation to get a standard type Skylight filter. Spend the extra money for the Super Multicoated type. After all, if you spend nearly $1,000 for a lens, why would you skimp on a lower priced filter? The manual focusing mechanism turns freely after you reach the end of the focal length on either side. This is done so that you do not damage the focusing mechanism. For manual focus option, instead of setting your camera body to manual focus, the lens has a switch that allows you to switch between manual focus and auto focus without having to have your body set on manual focus. This is convenient. If the lens is hunting you can easily click over the switch with your thumb without having to remove the camera from your eye. There is no longer an aperture ring on the new digital series lenses. This is logical since all the f-stop settings are now done on the camera body. The stunning sharpness and contrast of this lens is amazing. Distortion is practically non existant and flare is tightly controlled. Make sure you have the lens hood attached to help make sure flare is not an issue. This lens makes the lower priced lenses seem inferior by comparison. This lens is made for professionals and it shows. If you are currently looking for a professional quality Pentax zoom lens, and need the high speed of a 2.8 lens for portrait or glamour photography, this is the one to get. This is an outstanding lens from Pentax. Rush out and get it!

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Designed for exclusive use with Pentax digital SLR cameras, the Pentax DA series 50-135mm telephoto zoom lens makes it easy to capture close-in sports shots or intimate wildlife photography. The lens is distinguished by its aspherical elements, special optical-glass elements, and original glass coatings, which help produce a high contrast, unmatched clarity, and edge-to-edge sharpness. The lens also boasts a tightly sealed weather- and dust-resistant housing that stands up to rainy or dusty conditions. And users will love the new SDM system, which produces smoother, quieter autofocusing using a built-in supersonic motor. Other details include a Pentax-original Quick-Shift Focus System that switches instantly to manual-focus operation, a Pentax SP coating that protects the exposed lens elements, and a focal length equivalent to 76.5-207mm in the 35mm format.

Lens mount: Pentax KAF2
Lens construction: 18 elements in 14 groups
Angle of view: 31.5 to 11.9 degrees (when used with Pentax digital SLR camera body)
Aperture control: Automatic
Minimum aperture: F22
Metering system: TTL open-aperture metering
Minimum focusing distance: 1 meter
Filter size: 67mm
Maximum magnification: 0.17x
Dimensions: 3 inches in diameter and 5.4 inches long
Weight: 24.2 ounces (without hood)

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